Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-01
THE MILITIA APPROPRIATION.
Interesting Questions C0ncerninR its
D.ssribuiOn-The DistricCS Quota.

several interesting questions OF law have arisen
concerning the issues for arming and eaulppiug
the militia under the act OF Congress OF last Feb
ruary," said Captain d. N. Taylor the ordnance
ocer on special duty In the ONCE OF the Secretary
OF War, 10 STAR reporter the other day. Up TO
the time OF the last act the annual appropriation
amounted To 500, O00 but the expenditure OF this
sum was confined TO the purchase OF ordnance
stores The act Of 81, however, increased the sum
TO 100000, to be used for both ordnance and
quartermasters stores. one Of the f1rst questions
raised was whether the balance Of the old appro-
priation could stin be drawn on, and also whether
the amounts which the states and the District had
Ihese questions were referred 10 the Attorney
General, who decided first, that the credited
balances could be drawn on, but only for
ordnance stores, since the expenditure OF the Old
appropriation had been restricted TO that field.
lhere was no provision for the accounts ability for
nor return OF stores furnished under the old law.
aIiotnent under the new law could not be used to
nqlidate debts contracted under inc old law Now
TINS last decision was particularly fortunate one,
Since N many cases. notably the District, the debts
amounted TO considerably more than the allotment
Oh the fund In the case OF the District, 1t would
nave taken all the money coming to Us under the
appropriation for two or three years.
Anoiher question was as to the meaning OF the
WORD 'QuartersInaster's stores used In the act;
wEether clothing was Included. Clothing, camp
ana Garrison equipage. and quarternasterS stores
are technically classed under three heads, al
though All are issued by tue Quartermaster's de-
partment- The decision was That clothing could
be 81 issued In the decision the following words
were used: Only such articles could be drawn, UNI
der the acs, as were procured under direct pGovts-
ION OF law, for issue TO the regular forces OF the
United states, By the Ordnance and quarter
masters departments The question also arose
whether Goth not made up could be issued. The
secretary OF War decided that the object In
view being uniformity in arming ana equipping
the militia, cloth could be issued put only for the
purpose OF making the regulation uniform.
"Ihe appropriation that became available on
the first day OF last July is, In round numbers,
about half issued 10 the states. The result OF the
act seems 10 have been to give great impetus 70
the organization OF the militia forces throughout
the United states. The Older StaIeS-those OF the
Northern and Eastern portions Of the country-are
drawing their quota In camp equIpage, while the
newer ones are spending their money for clothing.
The Interest that has been created appears to be
general. Colorado and West Virginia. which never
nave had any militia forces to speak Of, are organ
H1ng forces In a most enthusiastic manner. The
District has taken a long stride ahead under the
Influence OF the increased appropriation. and,
with the present efficient men at the head OF the
militia here, venture to predict that the baby
Will soon cause the older States TO open their eyes
In wonder"